This July 4, I thought of three important events in our history. The first occurred 237 years ago, the second 150 years ago, and the third just a few days ago. These three events explain what America means to me now. An edited version of Thomas Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence was published 237 years ago with these words in the second paragraph: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they...

I believe our nation’s founders were incredibly wise in advocating for a separation of church and state. Perhaps it was their own faith convictions that compelled them to act with such foresight. My own denomination, the United Church of Christ, links its heritage to the Pilgrims who came seeking religious freedom in a land where no king or emperor would mandate religion or its practice, or reign as its head. Instead of setting up the same system, different only by the fact that in place of being the disempowered they would now be the ones in power, they opted for a democracy that would not perpetuate the same persecution they had felt.

It is tiresome to see the same hoary arguments brought up time and again by creationists in the opinion pages of the Pilot (Community Commentary -- "Pilot columnist too accepting of evolution," Feb. 26). For example, the claim that there are no transitional fossils: There are many, for example, whale fossils with legs; see o7 www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-transitional.htmlf7 . Or the assertion that evolution is "just a theory" -- like gravitation.

As a proud, lifelong conservative Republican and native Orange Countian, I took more than my usual amount of umbrage with the "weekly whinings" of the Pilot's ultra liberal columnist Joe Bell. I arrived in Placentia in 1942, 17 years prior to Bell's arrival in 1959. My conservative Republican parents arrived in 1932 when they purchased an Orange Grove in the beautiful little town of Placentia, which was the culmination of a lifelong dream for them. And until Joe Bell moved here from the Midwest to enlighten us, we didn't know we were all "nut cases" back then.

Is it the Fourth of July already? Really? I don’t understand. Weren’t the holidays like, I don’t know, three months ago? Granted, sometimes weeks and months turn into years before you know it, but I still don’t get it. Doesn’t matter. What does matter is that Saturday is America’s birthday, ready or not, and there are peeps to honor, parties to plan and things to blow up. Let’s see, where did we leave off? We have already done the history of the Fourth — the brutally hot Philadelphia summer of 1776, ratifying the Declaration of Independence on July 2, signing it on July 4 then celebrating with fireworks and a major rager at City Tavern, which is still there by the way. Last year, we paid tribute to that long standing but rarely recognized symbol of this great nation, the most American of foods, except that it’s German, the hot dog — sometimes called a frankfurter, or a wiener, or where I come from — a dog. With that done, I say we next turn our attention to the people who are mentioned a lot but understood a little at this time of year — the Founding Fathers.

While most of us will spend Fourth of July with friends, family and neighbors watching fireworks, barbecuing and otherwise enjoying a summer holiday, we should not forget our fellow Americans that are fighting in far off lands to ensure our freedom. The freedoms we enjoy today have not been secured by words alone, but by men and women who have risked their lives to defend the principles of liberty and our right to independence. On Independence Day it is easy to get caught up in the enjoyment of the day without considering the origins of the holiday.

This week is Sunshine Week. No, that doesn?t mean what you think it means. It has nothing to do with the weather. No, this week is a celebration of the freedom of the press to watch over the affairs of government, an essential component of any democratic government. Sunshine Week is an extension of Sunshine Day, created in 2002 by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors in response to moves by the state legislature there to weaken public records laws. The movement spread across the nation to become what is officially known now as Sunshine Week.

JOSEPH N. BELL In a splendid bit of timing while we were visiting friends in North Carolina, Sherry and I saw the musical play "1776" on July 3, put on in a regional theater by a state-supported theatrical company that was in excellent voice. I had seen "1776" many years ago in New York but had forgotten how insightfully it portrayed the give-and-take between the men who created the Declaration of Independence. This was especially true of the omission of any reference to slavery in the final draft of the Declaration.

Joe Bell should violate his cardinal rules more often (The Bell Curve, "Revisionist history that needs revisiting," Thursday). His response to Tom Williams' letter is a timely reminder of the power of reason over rant. The same theme was visited by Norah Vincent in Thursday's Los Angeles Times. Under the headline "The yelling drowns out the ideas," Vincent writes: "We are polarized in the extreme and desperate for certainty, even if it's only the kind of turgid, substanceless conviction that comes of shouting louder and quipping meaner than the other guy."

For anyone with an interest in history, "A Star Spangled Weekend" will feature a full slate of activities that will celebrate our national heritage. Programs planned today through Sunday at the Newport Beach Central Library also will showcase the American History Collection -- more than 2,400 resources that provide an overview of U.S. history, from centuries before the Pilgrims' landing through settlement of the West. Numerous volumes offer insight for weekend activities.

David Stiller, a longtime Costa Mesa resident known for his decades of service on a variety of city committees, has died. Stiller had been having health troubles for several weeks and died of natural causes at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital about 1 a.m. Sunday, his family said. He was 78. At the time of his death, Stiller had been serving on three city groups: the Finance Advisory and Fairview Park Citizens Advisory committees and the Costa Mesa Senior Center board of directors.

The following question is meant to be practical, not philosophical, and your answer is important. Do you want unlimited government? That would mean that government would effectively take responsibility for deciding and controlling all aspects of our lives. Honestly, I don't think I have ever encountered anyone who wants that. One reason of course, is that unlimited government doesn't work. For example, the governments in China, Cuba and the former Soviet Union took away many personal freedoms, but they still had some limitations on government, and even then their systems were stagnant.

This July 4, I thought of three important events in our history. The first occurred 237 years ago, the second 150 years ago, and the third just a few days ago. These three events explain what America means to me now. An edited version of Thomas Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence was published 237 years ago with these words in the second paragraph: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they...

Dr. David Maurice Smith In loving memory of Dr. David Maurice Smith, 55, of Newport Beach, who passed away on February 9, 2012. Born on January 9, 1957 in Whittier, California. Loving husband and father to four children. He grew up in Whittier along with his two sisters and brother and attended California High School. He met his beloved wife, Donna, while growing up in Whittier, and had been together since she was thirteen years old. He and Donna both went on to UCLA and then to USC School of Dentistry.

Last Sunday, our nation observed the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the worst terrorist attack ever to take place on our shores. It was a time of reflection, healing, remembering and even praise. Not praise for that undeserved and cowardly attack, but praise for the courage of those willing to give their own lives in an attempt to save others. God's holy word, the Bible, calls this the greatest demonstration of love known to man. John 15:13: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

While most of us will spend Fourth of July with friends, family and neighbors watching fireworks, barbecuing and otherwise enjoying a summer holiday, we should not forget our fellow Americans that are fighting in far off lands to ensure our freedom. The freedoms we enjoy today have not been secured by words alone, but by men and women who have risked their lives to defend the principles of liberty and our right to independence. On Independence Day it is easy to get caught up in the enjoyment of the day without considering the origins of the holiday.

I believe our nation’s founders were incredibly wise in advocating for a separation of church and state. Perhaps it was their own faith convictions that compelled them to act with such foresight. My own denomination, the United Church of Christ, links its heritage to the Pilgrims who came seeking religious freedom in a land where no king or emperor would mandate religion or its practice, or reign as its head. Instead of setting up the same system, different only by the fact that in place of being the disempowered they would now be the ones in power, they opted for a democracy that would not perpetuate the same persecution they had felt.

Is it the Fourth of July already? Really? I don’t understand. Weren’t the holidays like, I don’t know, three months ago? Granted, sometimes weeks and months turn into years before you know it, but I still don’t get it. Doesn’t matter. What does matter is that Saturday is America’s birthday, ready or not, and there are peeps to honor, parties to plan and things to blow up. Let’s see, where did we leave off? We have already done the history of the Fourth — the brutally hot Philadelphia summer of 1776, ratifying the Declaration of Independence on July 2, signing it on July 4 then celebrating with fireworks and a major rager at City Tavern, which is still there by the way. Last year, we paid tribute to that long standing but rarely recognized symbol of this great nation, the most American of foods, except that it’s German, the hot dog — sometimes called a frankfurter, or a wiener, or where I come from — a dog. With that done, I say we next turn our attention to the people who are mentioned a lot but understood a little at this time of year — the Founding Fathers.

This week is Sunshine Week. No, that doesn?t mean what you think it means. It has nothing to do with the weather. No, this week is a celebration of the freedom of the press to watch over the affairs of government, an essential component of any democratic government. Sunshine Week is an extension of Sunshine Day, created in 2002 by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors in response to moves by the state legislature there to weaken public records laws. The movement spread across the nation to become what is officially known now as Sunshine Week.

JOSEPH N. BELL In a splendid bit of timing while we were visiting friends in North Carolina, Sherry and I saw the musical play "1776" on July 3, put on in a regional theater by a state-supported theatrical company that was in excellent voice. I had seen "1776" many years ago in New York but had forgotten how insightfully it portrayed the give-and-take between the men who created the Declaration of Independence. This was especially true of the omission of any reference to slavery in the final draft of the Declaration.